Improvement in propelling canal-boats



2 Sheets-Shed 1.

W. W1. VIRDIN. PROPBLLING CANAL BOATS.

PfatentedApr. 18, 1871 'all .lflllcl.; ZIJEA Wlt'nesses.

2 sheetsSheet 2.

W. W. VIRDIN. PROPBLLING CANAL BOATS.

No. 113,951. Patented Apr. 18, 1871.

Witneac'ea wams PETERS no. Pnofouwo., wAsm @anni edits.

WILLIAM W. VIRDIN, OF BALTIMGRE, MARYLAND.

Letters Patent N. 113,951, dated April 18,V 1811.

IMPROVEMENT IN PROPELLING CANAL-BOATS.

The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent and makingpart of the same.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, WILLIAM W. VIRDIN, of Baltimore city, in the county of Baltimore and State of Maryland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Self-Propelling Canal-Boats; and do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and eXact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawing making a part of this specification, in whichg l Figure l is a plan view of the upper side of a boat constructed in accordance with my improvements;

Figure 2 is a vertical longitudinal section of the same on the'line x :t of iig. I,

Figure 3 is a vertical cross-section of the propellingchain, with its ways and support, on the line y y of iig. 2; and l Figure 4 is a like view of the boat on the line z z of same figure.

Letters of like name and kind refer to like parts in each of the figures.

My invent-ion is animprovernent in the construction and operation of self-propelling boats for use ou canals; and

It consists principally in the peculiarl exterior form of the boat, substantially'as and for the purpose hereinafter specified.

It further consists in the employment, within 'the ends of the boat, of suitable inclosed grooves for the reception of the propelling-chain, substantially as and for the purpose hereinafter shown.

It further consists in the peculiar construction of the boat, whereby the same is adaptedto receive the propelling-chain and its operating mechanism, substantially as hereinafter shown and described. p It further consists in the means employed for sus'- taining the propelling-chain within its grooves at the bottom of the boat, substantially as hereinafter set forth.

It further consists in an endless chain working within a suitable groove constructed longitudinally within the bottom of the boat and upon or over a suitable way suspended above the boat, combined with pivoted paddles-or buckets so constructed as to maintain at all tiniesa vertical position, substantially as is hereinafter specified.

It nally consists in the supports employed for sustaining above the boat the propelling-chain and its supporting-way, substantially as is hereinafter shown and described.

In the annexed drawing- A represents the boat, constructed with a dat bottorn, A', and having its ends B and C extended upward and inward in acurve, the forward end, B, being somewhat higher than the rear end, C.

Within the bottom A and ends B and C, at their transverse center, is cut a longitudinal groove, I), of a suitable width and depth `to contain the propellingchain E, while within each of said ends is provided a semicircular recess, F, corresponding in widthto and opening into said groove, and furnishing` a space for suitable chain-wheels, G, through which motion is communicated from the operating mechanism to said chain.

The propelling-chain E is constructed of two single chains connected together at suitable Vintervals by means of rods c, upon or to which are pivoted the buckets E', said bucketsbeing attached to said rods at their vertical center, so as thereby to equalize the pressure of water upon their faces.

In order that said buckets may be caused to maiutain a vertical position atv all times, and thereby prevent the lifting of water, the lower half of each is made somewhat thicker than its upper half, so that while exposing the same amount ofv surface to the pressure of the water said weighted half will incline downward with sucient force to insure the desired vertical position of the bucket, whatever its position with relation to the boat.

At each of the upper ends and bottom of the groove D is placed a roller, H, over which the chain E, after leaving the driving-wheels G, passes inward toward the longitudinal center of the boat.

In' order that said chain may be sustained between said rollers and sufficiently elevated above the boat to permit the operations of loading and unloading to be carried on without interference, two rails, I, having the form shown in figs. 1 and 3, extend from or between said rollers, and are suspended upon the upper ends of three or more braces, K, said braces being forked at said upper ends, and each arm of said fork lt provided with a vertical stud, la', which pass upward through suitable openings made in and through said rails, the latter of which are thereby held in lateral as well as vertical position.

A groove Aupon the inner side of each rail receives a number of friction-rollers, e', which are pivoted upon the projecting ends of the rods e outside of the chai-n, and thereby the weight of the latter is sustained and its position with relation to said rails or ways insured.

The lower'. ends of the braces K are secured in pnsition upon the bottom of the boat, and in order that they may be made to conform to any required length, so as to enable the desired tension of the chain to be secured, a portion or the whole of said braces are divided at their longitudinal center, and have a screw, L, secured within the lower section and passing loosely into a suitable opening within the upper section.

A threaded sleeve, IVI, fitted upon said screw, between said sections, furnishes a means whereby the latter may be forced apart and the brace lengthened,

I center, a ledge, d, is formed upon and projects -horizontally inward from the sides of thehorizontal. portion of the groove D, and furnishes a bearing for the friction-rollers e', by which means said chain is not only heldv in vertical position, but, also, its weight is` sustained so as to canse no undue strain upon the supporting mechanism above the boat.

, The grooves within the ends of thehoat beiugcovered in any suitable manner, and operating mechanism bej ing connected with the shafts g ofthe chain-wheels G,-

thechain E is caused to move longitudinally within Y the groove D', so as to force the buckets against the water, and thereby impart motion in an opposite direction to the boat.

As the buckets are comparatively small, by reason of the number that is within the water at one time, and as said buckets when drawing are contained within the groove, no possibility exists of washing the banks of a canal beyondwhat would result from the motion of the boat irrespective of the means employed for imparting motion to the latter.

From the peculiar manner in which the lbuckets are constructed and suspended no water is either ,pressed downward or lifted,"s'o that the entire power of thel operating mechanism,less the friction of the chain,` is utilized in giving'motion to the boat. v

Finally, the peculiar construction of the boat with its raised and curved ends Aaffords room for the operating mechanism without encroaching upon the space required for freight, and, also, especially adapts said boat to and renders practicable the use of the endless propelling-cha in.

Having thus fully set forth the nature andv merits of my invention,

1. The boat A, provided with the'upward and inward-curving ends B and G, substantially as and for the purpose specied.

2. A boat, A, provided at or within each end with a suitable inclosed groove, D, constructed on a vertical plane, for the reception and passage oi' a propelling-chain, which works longitudinally around saidn boat,.substantially as and for the purpose shown.

3. The boat A, provided with the upward and in-' ward-curvingends B and G, the longitudinal groove D, and the recesses F, substantially. as and for the purpose set forth.

4. In combination withfthe chain E, provided with Athe friction-rollers e', the ledges d, secured to and projecting horizontally inward from the sides of the groove D, substantially as and for the purpose shown and described. i

5. In combination with an endless chain, E, working Within a suitable longitudinal groove constructed within the bottom and ends of a boat, and upon or over a suitable way suspended above the boat, the paddles or buckets E', pivoted atv their vertical centers, and weighted upon their lower edges, so as to cause them to maintain atall times a vertical position, substantially as and for the purpose speciled.

6. The braces or supports K,lconstrncted as described, and combined with the rails I, in the manner and for the vpurpose substantially as shown. In testimony that lI claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand this 30th day of December, 1870.

' Witnesses: W. W. VIRDIN.

j GEO. S. PMNDLE, I EDM. F, BROWN. 

